Comments on: When It Comes To Mobility, What Is Success?

By: RA Guy

RA Guy — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 17:02:13 +0000

Thanks for all of the supportive feedback. Just yesterday I went back to class for a make-up session (three hours on a Saturday afternoon – ouch!), and made it up with just a cane. It’s funny, how rapid the swings can be from one day to another. I think this post was my emotional processing of accepting more mobility aids into my life, if and when they are necessary.

One drawback of where I live is that the built environment is not at all friendly for people with wheelchairs and similar devices…hopefully this will begin to change soon.

My house is a whole other issue…not at all accessible in it’s current state.

By: Anita

Anita — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 16:55:55 +0000

Dear RA Guy, I understand your hesitancy, but my independence is extremely important to me. If that means using a motorized scooter or wheelchair, then so be it. I can’t use crutches, because the R/A in my hands won’t allow it. I can’t use a regular wheelchair for the same reason. So, it’s a motorized scooter for me. It allows me to go out by myself and feel like I can do most of what I want to do by myself. That’s just really important for me.

By: Wren

Wren — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 02:37:06 +0000

I’m glad your feelings have changed about using a wheelchair, if and when you need to. I think we’re all uneasy about using assistive devices to do things that we once did without thought. And we’re uneasy about having to explain why to others, and about the obstacles we’ll have to face. It all just sounds exhausting. But accepting the fact and using those devices — a cane, crutches, a walker, a wheelchair — means that you have a sort of strength and courage that many people can’t even imagine. That you can face the inevitable with a smile and a can-do attitude is a blessing of wisdom. Thanks for articulating your thoughts about this, RA Guy. You’re a wonderful teacher.

By: Millicent

Millicent — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 17:47:18 +0000

It seems to me that using devices to help maintain independence is a real sign of strength.

By: Laurie

Laurie — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 15:11:00 +0000

Hey RA Guy, you use what you need to use to keep going. Have you ever thought about a rolling walker? they usually have a seat and a storage area under the seat, so you could take a break and sit if you needed too, or like my mom did, she’d sit and scoot around the house. I know when my knees bother me at work I tend to roll around on my wheeled office chair to scoot 5-10 feet to grab a chart or book.
I don’t look at the use of assistive devices as a failure of our disease; their use is a way to keep active and engaged while preventing damage to already sore joints.